Board recommends approval for commercial subdivision

Last Wednesday evening, the Flathead City-County Planning Board voted to recommend approval for the subdivision of a 5.31-acre commercial property on Montana 82 near Pick’s Bowling Center that would create five lots ranging from .69 acres to 1.41 acres in size. The proposal to create Ridgeview Park subdivision was actually approved back in 2006, but after a road was constructed and water and sewer infrastructure installed, the project came to a halt.

“We’re looking to pick up where we left off,” said applicant Mark Herman.

There has been interest in the lots for a number of uses including batting cages, a bank, offices and a pickleball facility, Herman noted. The existing zoning is B-3 or community business, which allows a variety of businesses ranging from laundromats and day care centers to restaurants and microbreweries, along with limited residential uses, namely upstairs apartments.

Thirteen agencies were notified of the plans to create Ridgeview Park subdivision including Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks and the Bigfork Fire District, among others. No objections to the request nor written public comment were received, although the Montana Department of Transportation requested that the owners obtain a new approach permit from MDT since there would be “a change in use of an existing access,” the application states. The proposal was also reviewed by the Bigfork Area Land Use Advisory Committee during their March meeting, and they also made a positive recommendation for the subdivision.

Board members voted to recommend their approval of the subdivision to Flathead County Commissioners who will have the ultimate say on whether the subdivision moves forward or not.

A date for that meeting has yet to be scheduled, but members of the public can review the commissioner’s agenda for the latest updates at www.flathead.mt.gov/commissioner. ■